Color filter substrate and liquid crystal display panel including the same

ABSTRACT

A color filter substrate includes a substrate, a black matrix disposed on the substrate, a color filter on a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix, a common electrode disposed on the color filter to receive a common voltage, and an anti-reflective layer configured to prevent the reflection of light in the color filter substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/191,099, filed on Jul. 26, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/960,994, filed on Dec. 20, 2007, issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 8,004,641, on Aug. 23, 2011, and claims priority fromand the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0131693, filedon Dec. 21, 2006, which are hereby incorporated by reference for allpurposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a color filter substrate, which mayimprove transmissivity, and a liquid crystal display panel including thesame.

2. Discussion of the Background

A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel displays images by controllingthe optical transmissivity of liquid crystal molecules using an electricfield. The LCD panel includes a thin film transistor (“TFT”) substrate,a color filter substrate coupled with the TFT substrate, and liquidcrystal molecules disposed between the TFT substrate and the colorfilter substrate.

The TFT substrate includes a gate line, a data line crossing the gateline, a TFT disposed where the data line crosses the gate line, and apixel electrode connected to the TFT.

The color filter substrate includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a substrate 10,a black matrix 20 on the substrate 10 to prevent light leakage, a colorfilter 30 to provide red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light, and acommon electrode 40 to form a vertical electric field together with thepixel electrode. An overcoat layer (not shown) may be further providedbetween the color filter 30 and the common electrode 40 to planarize thecolor filter substrate 50.

The color filter substrate 50 displays color by transmitting incidentlight from a backside via the TFT substrate (not shown) and the liquidcrystal molecules (not shown). The common electrode 40, the overcoatlayer (not shown), the color filter 30, and the substrate 10 may includematerials having different refractive indexes. In a conventional LCDpanel, transmissivity may be reduced because light supplied from a lightsource that passes through the color filter substrate 50 may bereflected at the boundaries of each material, due to differences in therefractive indexes of the materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a color filter substrate, which mayimprove transmissivity by forming an anti-reflective layer, and a liquidcrystal display panel including the same.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The present invention discloses a color filter substrate including asubstrate, a black matrix disposed on the substrate, a color filter on asub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix, a common electrodedisposed on the color filter to receive a common voltage, and ananti-reflective layer configured to prevent the reflection of light inthe color filter substrate.

The present invention also discloses a color filter substrate includinga substrate, a black matrix disposed on the substrate, a color filter ona sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix, an overcoat layerdisposed on the color filter to planarize the color filter, and ananti-reflective layer configured to prevent the reflection of light inthe color filter substrate.

The present invention also discloses a liquid crystal display panelincluding a color filter substrate including a substrate, a black matrixdisposed on the substrate, a color filter on a sub-pixel areapartitioned by the black matrix, an overcoat layer disposed on the colorfilter to planarize the color filter, and an anti-reflective layerconfigured to prevent the reflection of light in the color filtersubstrate, a thin film transistor substrate opposing the color filtersubstrate, and liquid crystal molecules disposed between the thin filmtransistor substrate and the color filter substrate.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a color filter substrate of aconventional LCD.

FIG. 2 is a layout of an LCD panel according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are cross-sectional views of alternative color filtersubstrates for the LCD panel according the first exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 are cross-sectional viewsof alternative color filter substrates for the LCD panel according tothe second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel according to a thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are cross-sectional views of alternative colorfilter substrates for the LCD panel of the third exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown.This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure isthorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes oflayers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like referencenumerals in the drawings denote like elements.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, regionor substrate is referred to as being “on” or “connected to” anotherelement, it can be directly on or directly connected to the otherelement or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, whenan element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly connectedto” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

FIG. 2 is a layout of an LCD panel according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectionalview taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an LCD panel includes a TFT substrate300 having a TFT array formed thereon, a color filter substrate 100opposing the TFT substrate 300, and liquid crystal molecules 270arranged between the TFT substrate 300 and the color filter substrate100.

The TFT substrate 300 includes a gate line 315 on a lower substrate 310,a data line 365 crossing the gate line 315 and insulated from the gateline 315, and a plurality of sub-pixels respectively connected to thegate and data lines 315 and 365. Each sub-pixel includes a thin filmtransistor (TFT) as a switching device and a pixel electrode 390connected to the TFT.

The gate line 315 provides the TFT with a scan signal supplied from agate driving unit (not shown). The data line 365 is configured to crossthe gate line 315 with a gate insulating layer 330 therebetween andprovides the TFT with a data voltage supplied from a data driving unit(not shown).

The TFT provides the pixel electrode 390 with the data voltage suppliedvia the data line 365 in response to a scan signal provided via the gateline 315. The TFT includes a gate electrode 320 connected to the gateline 315, a semiconductor layer 340 on the gate insulating layer 330 andoverlapping the gate electrode 320, an ohmic contact layer 350 on thesemiconductor layer 340, a source electrode 360 on the ohmic contactlayer 350 and connected to the data line 365, and a drain electrode 370opposing the source electrode 360. A passivation layer 380 is formed onthe TFT and includes a contact hole 385 exposing the drain electrode370. The drain electrode 370 is connected to the pixel electrode 390through the contact hole 385.

When a scan signal is supplied to the gate electrode 320 via the gateline 315, the TFT is turned on to provide the pixel electrode 390 withthe data voltage supplied from the data line 365. The pixel electrode390 may include a transparent conductive material and is on thepassivation layer 380 to generate a vertical electric field togetherwith a common electrode 150 on the color filter substrate 100. The pixelelectrode 390 may be patterned include a plurality of domains in case ofa patterned vertically aligned (PVA) mode LCD panel.

The liquid crystal molecules 270 include a material having dielectricanisotropy and adjust light transmissivity when they are driven by anelectric field generated between the pixel electrode 390 and the commonelectrode 150.

The color filter substrate 100 includes a black matrix 120 disposed onan upper substrate 110 to prevent light leakage, a color filter 130disposed in a pixel area partitioned by the black matrix 120, a commonelectrode 150 disposed on the color filter 130, and a firstanti-reflective layer 210 disposed between the upper substrate 110 andthe color filter 130.

The black matrix 120 may include a non-transparent metal or anon-transparent organic or inorganic material and may prevent lightleakage. The location of the black matrix 120 corresponds to the gateline 315, the data line 365, and the TFT on the TFT substrate 300. Theblack matrix 120 may oppose the gate and data lines 315 and 365 toconfigure a sub-pixel area.

The color filter 130 may be formed by coating the sub-pixel areapartitioned by the black matrix 120 with red (R), green (G), and blue(B) color resins. The color filter 130 may include an organic materialhaving a refractive index of about 1.73.

The common electrode 150 is disposed on the color filter 130 andprovided with a common voltage. The common electrode 150 generates avertical electric field together with the pixel electrode 390, which issupplied with a data voltage to drive the liquid crystal molecules 270.The common electrode 150 may include a transparent conductive material,such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or indium tinzinc oxide (ITZO), and may have a refractive index of about 2.0. Thecommon electrode 150 may be patterned to alternate with the pixelelectrode 390 to provide a plurality of domains. When the commonelectrode 150 is patterned to alternate with the pixel electrode 390, afringe field is generated between the common and pixel electrodes 150and 390 to enable the LCD panel to operate in the PVA mode.

The first anti-reflective layer 210 is provided between the uppersubstrate 110 and the color filter 130. The first anti-reflective layer210 prevents the reflection of light transmitted through the liquidcrystal molecules 270, thereby enhancing the transmissivity of the LCDpanel. The first anti-reflective layer 210 may be formed prior toforming the black matrix on the upper substrate 110.

The first anti-reflective layer 210 may prevent light, which is to betransmitted through the upper substrate 110 after passing verticallythough the color filter 130, from being reflected on an interfacebetween the color filter 130 and the upper substrate 110 due todifferent refractive indexes.

A reflectance (r) of a vertically incident light on an interface betweenmaterials having different refractive indexes can be calculated byFormula 1.

$\begin{matrix}{r \approx \left\lbrack \frac{\left( {n_{1} - n_{2}} \right)}{\left( {n_{1} + n_{2)}} \right.} \right\rbrack^{2}} & \left\lbrack {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

When light is transmitted though a transparent substrate including glassor plastic, most of the light passes though the transparent substratebut a portion of the light is reflected. The intensity of the reflectedlight varies according to the refractive index (n) of the material. InFormula 1, the approximate reflectance (r) on an interface between twomaterials having refractive indexes n₁ and n₂, respectively, may becalculated when light is transmitted from the material having the firstrefractive index n₁ to the material having the second refractive indexn₂.

For instance, assuming that refractive indexes of air and the substrateare 0 and 1.52, respectively, the reflectance (r) on the substratebecomes 0.043. If a material having a refractive index between the airrefractive index n₁ and the substrate refractive index n₂ is providedbetween the substrate and the air, the reflectance becomes 0.012, so thereflectance (r) is considerably enhanced. The reflectance (r) variesaccording to the refractive index n₁ of the first material and therefractive index n₂ of the second material.

When the first anti-reflective layer 210 is provided between materialshaving different refractive indexes, i.e., between the upper substrate110 and the color filter 130, the reflectance (r) can be calculated byFormula 2.

$\begin{matrix}{r \approx \left\lbrack {\frac{\left( {n_{1} - n_{0}} \right)}{\left( {n_{1} + n_{0}} \right)} - \frac{\left( {n_{2} - n_{1}} \right)}{\left( {n_{2} + n_{1)}} \right.}} \right\rbrack^{2}} & \left\lbrack {{Formula}\mspace{14mu} 2} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

The refractive index n₀ of the first anti-reflective layer 210 may havea value between the refractive index n₁ of the upper substrate 110 andthe refractive index n₂ of the color filter 130.

For instance, assuming that the refractive index n₁ of the uppersubstrate 110 is 1.52 and the refractive index n₂ of the color filter130 is 1.73, the refractive index n₀ of the first anti-reflective layer210 may have a value between the refractive index n₁ of the uppersubstrate 110 and the refractive index n₂ of the color filter 130, andmore particularly, a value greater than 1.52 and smaller than 1.73. Forexample, the first refractive index n₀ of the first anti-reflectivelayer 210 may be the geometric average of the refractive index n₁ of theupper substrate 110 and the refractive index n₂ of the color filter 130.

The first refractive index n₀ of the first anti-reflective layer 210 canbe calculated by Formula 3. In particular, the geometric average of twomaterials can be expressed as a square root of the product of therefractive indexes of the two materials. So, in this example, therefractive index n₀ of the first anti-reflective layer 210 should be1.62.

n ₀=√{square root over (n ₁ ×n ₂)}  [Formula 3]

The first anti-reflective layer 210 may include a material having thefirst refractive index n₀. The first anti-reflective layer 210 mayinclude metal, an organic insulator, and/or an inorganic insulator. Forinstance, the first anti-reflective layer 210 may include Al₂O₃, SiOx,MgF₂, AlF₂, CeF₃, LaF₃, and/or NdF₃.

When the first anti-reflective layer 210 includes Al₂O₃, conventionalcolor filter substrate fabricating equipment may be used to preventadditional manufacturing costs. For instance, a first anti-reflectivelayer 210 including Al₂O₃ may be about 200 to about 1,000 Å thick andmay be formed on the upper substrate 110 by a deposition process, suchas sputtering.

According to experimental data, if the refractive index n₀ of the firstanti-reflective layer 210 is equal to or smaller than about 1.52 orequal to or greater than about 1.73, the reflectance (r) increases.Hence, the first refractive index n₀ of the first anti-reflective layer210 may be between 1.53 and 1.72, i.e., 1.62, which is the geometricaverage of 1.52 and 1.73. In this case, the first anti-reflective layer210 may reduce the reflectance (r), which may increase transmissivity.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are cross-sectional views of alternative color filtersubstrates for the LCD panel according to the first exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a color filter substrate 102 includes a blackmatrix 120 formed on an upper substrate 110, a color filter 130 providedin a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix 120 on the uppersubstrate 110, a second anti-reflective layer 220 disposed on the colorfilter 130, and a common electrode 150 disposed on the secondanti-reflective layer 220.

The second anti-reflective layer 220 may include metal, inorganicmaterial, and/or organic material. For example, the secondanti-reflective layer 220 may include silicon nitride (SiNx). Thesilicon nitride (SiNx) is an inorganic insulating material or anon-metal material that has a reflectance reducing ratio of about 40%and does not affect the formation of the common electrode 150 on thesecond anti-reflective layer 220.

The second anti-reflective layer 220 may include a material having arefractive index between a refractive index of the color filter 130 anda refractive index of the common electrode 150. For instance, when therefractive indexes of the color filter 130 and the common electrode 150are 1.73 and 2.0, respectively, the second anti-reflective layer 220 mayhave a refractive index greater than the refractive index (1.73) of thecolor filter 130 and smaller than the refractive index (2.0) of thecommon electrode 150. For example, the refractive index of the secondanti-reflective layer 220 may be 1.86, which is the geometric average of1.73 and 2.0.

The black matrix 120, the color filter 130, and the common electrode 150are the same to those explained with regard to FIG. 3 and therefore, adetailed explanation thereof is omitted in the following description.According to experimental data, when the second anti-reflective layer220 shown in FIG. 4 has a refractive index of about 1.86, thereflectance (r) may be decreased, thereby increasing transmissivity.

FIG. 5 shows another alternative color filter substrate for the LCDpanel according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a color filter substrate 104 includes a firstanti-reflective layer 210 disposed on an upper substrate 110, a blackmatrix 120 disposed on the first anti-reflective layer 210, a colorfilter 130 provided on a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix120, a second anti-reflective layer 220 disposed on the color filter130, and a common electrode 150 disposed on the second anti-reflectivelayer 220.

The first anti-reflective layer 210, the black matrix 120, the colorfilter 130, the second anti-reflective layer 220, and the commonelectrode 150 are the same as those described with regard to FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 and therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted in thefollowing description. According to experimental data, when the firstand second anti-reflective layers 210 and 220 shown in FIG. 5 haverefractive indexes of 1.62 and 1.86, respectively, the reflectance (r)of the LCD panel may decrease, thereby increasing transmissivity.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel according to a secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, an LCD panel according to a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes a TFT substrate 300, acolor filter substrate 400 opposing the TFT substrate 300, and liquidcrystal molecules 270 arranged between the TFT substrate 300 and thecolor filter substrate 400.

The color filter substrate 400 includes a black matrix 120, a colorfilter 130 on each sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix 120, acommon electrode 150 to receive a common voltage, an overcoat layer 140provided between the color filter 130 and the common electrode 150, anda first anti-reflective layer 210 between the upper substrate 110 andthe color filter 130.

The overcoat layer 140 prevents the common electrode 150 from beingformed unevenly due to a step difference of the color filter 130. Thestep difference of the color filter 130 may be generated if the colorfilter 130 overlaps the black matrix 120 or if the color filter 130provided to a prescribed sub-pixel overlaps the color filter 130provided to a neighboring sub-pixel.

The overcoat layer 140 may include an organic insulator and is disposedon the color filter 130 to planarize the step difference generated bythe color filter 130. Therefore, the common electrode 150 on theovercoat layer 140 may be planar. That is, the overcoat layer 140planarizes the step difference of the color filter 130 to preventabnormal electric field generation between the common electrode 150 andthe pixel electrode 390. Hence, it may be possible to prevent the liquidcrystal molecules 270 from being abnormally driven, thereby enhancingimage quality.

Like the aforementioned first anti-reflective layer explained in thefirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the firstanti-reflective layer 210 may include a material having a firstrefractive index between the upper substrate 110 and the color filter130.

The black matrix 120, the color filter 130, the common electrode 150,and the TFT substrate 300 are the same as those described with regard toFIG. 3 and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof is omitted in thefollowing description.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative color filtersubstrate for the LCD panel according to the second exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a color filter substrate 402 includes a blackmatrix 120 disposed on an upper substrate 110, a color filter 130disposed on a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix 120, asecond anti-reflective layer 220 disposed on the color filter 130, anovercoat layer 140 disposed on the second anti-reflective layer 220, anda common electrode 150 disposed on the overcoat layer 140.

The second anti-reflective layer 230 is disposed between the colorfilter 130 and the overcoat layer 140. The second anti-reflective layer230 may have a refractive index between the refractive index of thecolor filter 130 and the refractive index of the overcoat layer 140. Forinstance, when the refractive indexes of the color filter 130 and theovercoat layer 140 are 1.73 and 1.55, respectively, the reflectance (r)may increase if the refractive index of the second anti-reflective layer230 is smaller than 1.55 or greater than 1.73. If so, lighttransmissivity may be reduced. To prevent this problem, the secondanti-reflective layer 230 may have a refractive index greater than 1.55and smaller than 1.73. For example, the refractive index of the secondanti-reflective layer 230 may be the geometric average of the refractiveindexes of the overcoat layer 140 and the color filter 130. In the aboveexample, the refractive index of the second anti-reflective layer 230should be 1.64 according to Formula 3.

The second anti-reflective layer 230 may include metal, an inorganicinsulator, and/or an organic insulator, e.g., Al₂O₃, SiOx, MgF₂, AlF₂,CeF₃, LaF₃, NdF₃, and/or SiNx.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the second anti-reflective layer230 of the color filter substrate 402 may include the same material,e.g., Al₂O₃, as the first anti-reflective layer 210.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative color filtersubstrate that may alternatively be included in the LCD panel accordingto the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, an alternative color filter substrate 404 for theLCD panel according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention includes a black matrix 120 disposed on an upper substrate110, a color filter 130 disposed on a sub-pixel area partitioned by theblack matrix 120, an overcoat layer 140 disposed on the color filter130, a third anti-reflective layer 240 disposed on the overcoat layer140, and a common electrode 150 formed on the third anti-reflectivelayer 240.

The third anti-reflective layer 240 may include a material having athird refractive index between the refractive indexes of the overcoatlayer 140 and the common electrode 150, such as metal, an inorganicinsulator, and/or an organic insulator. The refractive index of thethird anti-reflective layer 240 may be greater than the refractive index(1.55) of the overcoat layer 140 and smaller than the refractive index(2.00) of the common electrode 150, e.g., 1.76, which is the geometricaverage of the refractive indexes of the overcoat layer 140 and thecommon electrode 150.

The third anti-reflective layer 240 may include a low refractive indexmaterial such as Al₂O₃, SiOx, MgF₂, AlF₂, CeF₃, LaF₃, and/or NdF₃.Alternatively, the third anti-reflective layer 240 may include siliconnitride (SiNx). Silicon nitride (SiNx) is an inorganic insulatingmaterial or a non-metal material that has a reflectance reducing ratioof about 40% and does not affect the formation of the common electrode150 on the third anti-reflective layer 240.

The color filter substrate for the LCD panel according to the secondexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include at least twoof the first, second, and third anti-reflective layers 210, 230, and 240described with regard to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative color filtersubstrate for the LCD panel according to the second exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, a color filter substrate 406 includes a firstanti-reflective layer 210 disposed on an upper substrate 110, a blackmatrix 120 disposed on the first anti-reflective layer 210, a colorfilter 130 provided on a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix120 on the first anti-reflective layer 210, a second anti-reflectivelayer 230 on the color filter 130, an overcoat layer 140 on the secondanti-reflective layer 230, and a common electrode 150 disposed on theovercoat layer 140.

The first anti-reflective layer 210 may have a refractive index betweenthe refractive indexes of the substrate 110 and the color filter 130.The second anti-reflective layer 230 may have a refractive index betweenthe refractive indexes of the color filter 130 and the overcoat layer140. The black matrix 120, the color filter 130, the common electrode150, and the overcoat layer 140 are the same as those of the colorfilter substrates 400 and 402 explained in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 andtherefore, a detailed explanation thereof is omitted in the followingdescription.

When light that has passed through the liquid crystal molecules 270 issequentially transmitted via the second anti-reflective layer 230 andthe first anti-reflective layer 210 of the color filter substrate 406,the difference in the refractive indexes may be reduced to decrease theintensity of reflected light. Hence, the transmissivity may be enhanced.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative color filtersubstrate for the LCD panel according to the second exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, another alternative color filter substrate 408that may be included in the LCD panel shown in FIG. 6 includes a firstanti-reflective layer 210 disposed on an upper substrate 110, a blackmatrix 120 disposed on the first anti-reflective layer 210, a colorfilter 130 provided in a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix120 on the first anti-reflective layer 210, an overcoat layer 140disposed on the color filter 130, a third anti-reflective layer 240 onthe overcoat layer 140, and a common electrode 150 disposed on the thirdanti-reflective layer 240.

The first anti-reflective layer 210 may have a refractive index betweenthe refractive indexes of the substrate 110 and the color filter 130.The third anti-reflective layer 240 may have a refractive index betweenthe refractive indexes of the overcoat layer 140 and the commonelectrode 150. The black matrix 120, the color filter 130, and thecommon electrode 150 are the same as those of the color filtersubstrates 400 and 404 explained in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 and therefore, adetailed explanation thereof is omitted in the following description.

When light that passed through the liquid crystal molecules 270 issequentially transmitted via the third anti-reflective layer 240 and thefirst anti-reflective layer 210 of the color filter substrate 408, thedifference in the refractive indexes may be reduced to decrease theintensity of the reflected light. Hence, the transmissivity may beenhanced.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative color filtersubstrate for the LCD panel according to the second exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, a color filter substrate 409 includes a firstanti-reflective layer 210 disposed on an upper substrate 110, a blackmatrix 120 formed on the first anti-reflective layer 210, a color filter130 provided in a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix 120 onthe first anti-reflective layer 210, a second anti-reflective layer 230disposed on the color filter 130, an overcoat layer 140 disposed on thesecond anti-reflective layer 230, a third anti-reflective layer 240 onthe overcoat layer 140, and a common electrode 150 disposed on the thirdanti-reflective layer 240.

The first anti-reflective layer 210 may have a refractive index betweenthe refractive indexes of the substrate 110 and the color filter 130.The second anti-reflective layer 230 may have a refractive index betweenthe refractive indexes of the color filer 130 and the overcoat layer140. The third anti-reflective layer 240 may have a refractive indexbetween the refractive indexes of the overcoat layer 140 and the commonelectrode 150. The black matrix 120, the color filter 130, the commonelectrode 150, and the overcoat layer 140 are the same as those of thecolor filter substrates 400, 402, and 404 explained in FIG. 6, FIG. 7,and FIG. 8 and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof is omitted inthe following description.

The color filter substrate 409 of the present exemplary embodimentincludes first, second, and third anti-reflective layers 210, 230, and240. When light that passed through the liquid crystal molecules 270 issequentially transmitted via the third, second, and firstanti-reflective layers 240, 230, and 210 of the color filter substrate409, the difference between the refractive indexes may be reduced ateach interface to decrease the intensity of the reflected light. Hence,the transmissivity may be enhanced. Also, separate masks to form thefirst, second, and third anti-reflective layers 210, 230, and 240 arenot required. Hence, it may be possible to fabricate the color filtersubstrate 409 without a considerable increase in fabrication costs.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD panel according to a thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, an LCD panel according a third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is an in-plane switching mode LCDpanel and includes a TFT substrate 600 having a common electrode 695disposed on a lower substrate 310 to alternate with a pixel electrode691, a color filter substrate 500 opposing the TFT substrate 600, andliquid crystal molecules 270 arranged between the TFT substrate 600 andthe color filter substrate 500. The color filter substrate 500 includesa first layer 210, a black matrix 120, a color filter 130, an overcoatlayer 140, and an alignment layer 160 disposed on the overcoat layer 140to align the liquid crystals 270.

The TFT substrate 600 includes a sub-pixel area defined on the lowersubstrate 310 by gate and data lines, a TFT provided in the sub-pixelarea and connected to the gate and data lines, the pixel electrode 691connected to the TFT, and the common electrode 695 configured toalternate with the pixel electrode 691 to generate a horizontal electricfield.

The TFT (not shown) includes a gate electrode connected to the gateline, a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode and the gate line, asemiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer and overlapping thegate electrode, an ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer, asource electrode on the ohmic contact layer and connected to the dataline, and a drain electrode opposing the source electrode and connectedto the pixel electrode 691.

If a scan signal is supplied to the gate electrode via the gate line, adata voltage supplied to the source electrode via the data line issupplied to the pixel electrode 691 via the drain electrode.

The pixel electrode 691 is disposed on a passivation layer 380 andconnected to the drain electrode via a pixel contact hole penetratingthe passivation layer 380. The common electrode 695 is disposed on thepassivation layer 380 to alternate with the pixel electrode 691. As thepixel electrode 691 and the common electrode 695 are on the same plane,if data and common voltages are applied to the pixel and commonelectrodes 691 and 695, respectively, a horizontal electric field isgenerated between the pixel and common electrodes 691 and 695 to drivethe liquid crystal molecules 270.

The color filter substrate 500 includes the first anti-reflective layer210 on the upper substrate 110, the black matrix 120 on the firstanti-reflective layer 210, the color filter 130 on the sub-pixel areapartitioned by the black matrix 120, the overcoat layer 140 on the colorfilter 130, and the alignment layer 160 on the overcoat layer 140 toalign the liquid crystal molecules 270.

The alignment layer 160 may include an organic material, such aspolyimide, or an inorganic material, such as SiO₂, to align the liquidcrystal molecules 270. The alignment layer 160 aligns the liquid crystalmolecules disposed between the TFT substrate 600 and the color filtersubstrate 500. The alignment layer 160 may be about 500 to about 1,000 Åthick and may be formed by printing or spin coating.

The first anti-reflective layer 210 may include Al₂O₃, SiOx, MgF₂, AlF₂,CeF₃, LaF₃, NdF₃, and/or SiNx. The first anti-reflective layer 210 mayhave a refractive index between a refractive index of the uppersubstrate 110 and a refractive index of the color filter 130. Forinstance, when the refractive indexes of the upper substrate 110 and thecolor filter 130 are 1.52 and 1.73, respectively, the firstanti-reflective layer 210 may have a refractive index between therefractive index (1.52) of the upper substrate 110 and the refractiveindex (1.73) of the color filter 130. For example, the refractive indexof the first anti-reflective layer 210 may be 1.62, which is thegeometric average of the refractive indexes of the upper substrate 110and the color filter 130.

The black matrix 120, the color filter 130, and the overcoat layer 140are the same as those of the first and second exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof isomitted in the following description.

Another color filter substrate for the LCD panel according to the thirdexemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include ananti-reflective layer between the color filter 130 and the overcoatlayer 140 or between the overcoat layer 140 and the alignment layer 160in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a color filtersubstrate 502 having a second anti-reflective layer 250 between theovercoat layer 140 and the alignment layer 160. The secondanti-reflective layer 250 may include a material having a refractiveindex between refractive indexes of the overcoat layer 140 and thealignment layer 160. In this case, the second anti-reflective layer 250may include a material having a different refractive index than thematerial of the alignment layer 160.

An alternative color filter substrate for the LCD panel according to thethird exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include both offirst and second anti-reflective layers 210 and 250. For example, asshown in FIG. 14, a color filter substrate 504 includes both first andsecond anti-reflective layers 210 and 250.

In particular, the color filter substrate 504 of FIG. 14 includes afirst anti-reflective layer 210 disposed on an upper substrate 110, ablack matrix 120 disposed on the first anti-reflective layer 210, acolor filter 130 on a sub-pixel area partitioned by the black matrix120, a color filter 130, an overcoat layer 140 disposed on the colorfilter 130, a second anti-reflective layer 250 disposed on the overcoatlayer 140, and an alignment layer 160 disposed on the secondanti-reflective layer 250.

Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention providemany advantages.

First of all, an anti-reflective layer on a color filter substrate mayprevent the reflection of backside light, thereby enhancingtransmissivity.

Secondly, an anti-reflective layer may be formed by a depositionprocess, such as sputtering, without an additional masking process,thereby reducing the cost of fabricating a color filter substrate.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A color filter substrate, comprising: a substrate; a black matrixdisposed on the substrate; a color filter on a sub-pixel areapartitioned by the black matrix; an overcoat layer disposed on the colorfilter to planarize the color filer; an anti-reflective layer configuredto prevent the reflection of light in the color filter substrate; and analignment layer on the overcoat layer to align liquid crystal molecules.2. The color filter substrate of claim 1, wherein the anti-reflectivelayer comprises at least one of: a first anti-reflective layer disposedbetween the substrate and the color filter; a second anti-reflectivelayer disposed between the color filter and the overcoat layer; and athird anti-reflective layer disposed between the overcoat layer and thealignment layer.
 3. The color filter substrate of claim 2, wherein thefirst anti-reflective layer has a refractive index between a refractiveindex of the substrate and a refractive index of the color filter. 4.The color filter substrate of claim 2, wherein the secondanti-reflective layer has a refractive index between the refractiveindex of the color filter and a refractive index of the overcoat layer.5. The color filter substrate of claim 2, wherein the thirdanti-reflective layer has a refractive index between the refractiveindex of the overcoat layer and a refractive index of the alignmentlayer.
 6. The color filter substrate of claim 2, wherein each of thefirst anti-reflective layer, the second anti-reflective layer, and thethird anti-reflective layer comprises one of Al₂O₃, SiOx, MgF₂, AlF₂,CeF₃, LaF₃, NdF₃, and SiNx.
 7. A liquid crystal display panel,comprising: a color filter substrate comprising: a substrate; a blackmatrix disposed on the substrate; a color filter on a sub-pixel areapartitioned by the black matrix; an overcoat layer disposed on the colorfilter to planarize the color filter; and an anti-reflective layerconfigured to prevent the reflection of light in the color filtersubstrate; a thin film transistor substrate opposing the color filtersubstrate; and liquid crystal molecules disposed between the thin filmtransistor substrate and the color filter substrate, wherein the colorfilter substrate further comprises an alignment layer disposed on theovercoat layer to align the liquid crystal molecules.
 8. The liquidcrystal display panel of claim 7, wherein the anti-reflective layercomprises at least one of: a first anti-reflective layer providedbetween the substrate and the color filter; a second anti-reflectivelayer disposed between the color filter and the overcoat layer; and athird anti-reflective layer disposed between the overcoat layer and thealignment layer.
 9. The color filter substrate of claim 8, wherein thefirst anti-reflective layer has a refractive index between a refractiveindex of the substrate and a refractive index of the color filter. 10.The color filter substrate of claim 8, wherein the secondanti-reflective layer has a refractive index between the refractiveindex of the color filter and a refractive index of the overcoat layer.11. The color filter substrate of claim 8, wherein the thirdanti-reflective layer has a refractive index between the refractiveindex of the overcoat layer and a refractive index of the alignmentlayer.
 12. The liquid crystal display panel of claim 8, wherein the thinfilm transistor substrate comprises a gate line, a data line, a thinfilm transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a pixelelectrode connected to the thin film transistor, and a common electrodeconfigured to alternate with the pixel electrode.